Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
Open Access

Abstract

Hypoglycemic Effect due to Insulin Stimulation with Plantago major in Wistar Rats

Maria Angelica Abud, Andrea Liv Nardello and Jeronimo Facundo Torti

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia, which causes secondary pathophysiological changes in multiple organ systems. Several times the Plantaginaceae family have been reported as crude drugs with hypoglycemic effect mainly attributed to their high fiber content.

Objective: The current study was hypothesized to investigate the beneficial effects of methanol extract from the aerial part of Plantago major (Pm) on hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses Alloxan induced diabetes mellitus, and in normal rats.

Materials and methods: Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg body weight Alloxan. Normal and Diabetic rats were administered with distilled water, methanol extract of Plantago major and glibenclamide, and then, compared in Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).

Results: Methanol extract of P. major was evaluated in OGTT in either normal or moderate or severe Alloxan induced diabetic rats (100 mg/kg –by intraperitoneal injection-). Oral administration of methanol extracts at doses of 500mg/kg body weight showed that the extract promotes glucose uptake in rats with efficient insulin secreting pancreas (that have pancreatic cells capable of secreting insulin).

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that Plantago major exerts antidiabetic activity by stimulating secretion of insulin and producing a hypoglycemic effect. These results suggest that the methanol extract from the entire Pm plant will be useful in the treatment of patients with impaired glucose tolerance.